arduino-cli

Install the package arduino-cli

For example with nix-env

nix-env -iA nixpkgs.arduino-cli

Add user to the dialout group

We will need access to the /dev/ttyACM0 as a simple user.

An other unelegant solution is to run all the commands as root.

# add the current user to the group "dialout"
sudo usermod -a -G dialout

To ensure that your current shell is using the dialout group, you can use the command id.

If you don’t have the dialout group you can force reloading your shell by using su - $USER

List the boards

arduino-cli board list

This command should shows the correct tty (for example /dev/ttyACM0) and the “Fully Qualified Board Name” also known as fqbn

Install a library

If you need a library, you can install it with

arduino-cli lib install LIBRARY_NAME

Compile the sketch

We will need to precise the fqbn

arduino-cli compile --fqbn arduino:avr:uno sketch.ino

Upload the sketch

arduino-cli upload -p /dev/ttyACM0 --fqbn arduino:avr:uno sketch.ino

Interact with the arduino

When using the default arduino software, we have an integrated serial monitor. But here, we are using the CLI and de facto there are no GUI so we will use the useful screen command!

To do so, we need:

• the tty (for example /dev/ttyACM0)
• the baud rate (the baud rate is specified in the sketch using Serial.begin(115200);)

screen /dev/ttyACM0 115200

To leave the screen session we can use Ctrl+a then k (for kill), the screen should then ask a confirmation with y key

Other useful commands

arduino-cli config init # create a config file

arduino-cli core update-index  # update the index

arduino-cli core install arduino:avr ## install arduino AVR family board

arduino-cli board listall # list supported board

arduino-cli board details -b arduino:avr:nano # show detail on this board (to find the correct option)

Command line completion

arduino-cli completion bash > arduino-cli.sh
mv arduino-cli.sh /etc/bash_completion.d/ # need root